Proposal: This proposal (and 263) would reflect better
the conclusions of Moore et al. (2006)'s molecular study ofVeniliornisand Picoidesspecies. Rather different issues are
involved in each proposal, so they are treated separately. A new linear order
is needed, but this would vary depending on the outcome of the two votes, so a
proposal is postponed for now.

Moore et al. (2006) showed predominantly
black-and-whitePicoides mixtusandP.
lignariusto form part of a
clade containing all Veniliornisspecies
sampled (exceptV. fumigatus,
discussed below). The relevant nodes have strong support. CertainPicoides-like plumage characters in
these species were postulated by Moore et al. possibly to have resulted from
convergent evolution. Notably,V.
spilogaster, the sister of these two species, has similar plumage patterning
tomixtusandlignarius,
although more colorful.

Two possible treatments in light of this study
are (i) mergingVeniliornisintoPicoides;
or (ii) transferringP. mixtusandP.
lignariusto Veniliornis.
Making the latter change (plus movingV.
fumigatustoPicoides) would makeVeniliornisa monophyletic group, which is
desirable, and would minimise changes.Veniliornisis already rather heterogeneous.
Merging withPicoideswould create an uncomfortably large genus
and result in a change of name for a number of species.

A possible criticism of the recommended approach
is that, despite the proposed changes,Picoideswould remain paraphyletic.Veniliornisis sister to a group containing small North
AmericanPicoidesspecies, with these two clades together
sister to a group of larger North AmericanPicoidesspecies plusV. fumigatus. A re-assignment of
genera withinPicoidesis likely to be necessary in the
future, possibly with the resurrection of old genera and/or creation of new
ones. However, many of the Eurasian taxa have not been sampled by Moore et
al.'s team, so they did not propose wider-ranging changes. In any event, it
seems likely that splitting ofPicoides
rather than lumping withVeniliorniswill be the recommended approach when the
time comes to avoid creating an unwieldy genus. Moving the two species in
question here toVeniliorniswas strongly recommended by Moore et al
(2006) and is likely to be a stable long-term treatment.

Comments from Stiles: "YES. Although
the Moore et al. study uses only 2 mitochondrial genes, other studies using
nuclear genes are consistent with the results presented in different aspects.
So, I think that the evidence for sendingfumigatustoPicoidesandmixtusand lignariustoVeniliornislooks pretty solid. I like the comments of
the authors regarding the parallel recurrence of "modules" of plumage
patterns among different members of a clade or family in response to ecological
or other conditions - certainly this seems to occur from time to time in
hummingbirds, and implies that one must be cautious in reading too much into
plumage patterns!"

Comments solicited from Bill Moore: "Although there is no doubt that the GenusPicoideswill be split into two or more smaller
genera, it is clear that the South and Central American clade comprising all
species ofVeniliornisexcept fumigatus
but includingPicoides lignariusandP.
mixtusis monophyletic and should
be named as a taxon at the level of genus. Regardless
of how the North American and Eurasian species are ultimately grouped, the
South American clade will certainly stand and can safely be recognized at this
juncture. As Van Remsen has counseled, a classification is a dynamic thing that
should be revised as evidence indicates. We shouldn't wait the outcome of
studies on the Eurasian species; the probability that that would impact the
monophyly ofVeniliornisis near zero."

Comments from Jaramillo: "YES - Reading
Moore et al, I was troubled by the fact that they did not sample any of the
three-toed Woodpeckers (the truePicoides).
Maybe it is because I first became interested in birds while growing up in
Canada, but to mePicoides are
the "three-toes" and nothing else! Reading the amazingly complete
summary by Laurent Raty suggests that this is indeed the case, although the
data are not all out to properly arrange the black-and-white woodpeckers as of
yet. As such I am not troubled by the broad Picoides, which may be in fact a temporary state.
But as Moore's comment states, that issue will unlikely impact the monophyly of
Veniliornis, and his data is clear that the southern cone "Picoides"
are really black-and-whiteVeniliornis.
Interestingly the southern cone "Picoides" not only show
convergence through plumage, but vocally they also have converged on a
trill/chatter that reminds one of a Downy Woodpecker. A tangential remark here
is that the Bolivian "Picoides"lignariusis almost certainly not the same
species as the southernlignarius."